PRL3 inhibitors to stop cancer spread and reveal how PRL3 can be drugged
Official title: PRL3 inhibitors as migrastatics and the molecular determinants of PRL3 druggability
Funded at Georgia Southern University · NIH-11385371 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find and test chemicals that block PRL3 to stop cancer cells from spreading in patients with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Southern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Statesboro, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $175,899 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM154696-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385371 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where PRL3 is implicated in metastasis may benefit from future translational efforts and trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without PRL3-associated metastasis or those not suitable for early-stage inhibitor studies may not see direct benefit.
What this research studies
PRL3 is a protein linked to cancer spread, and this project looks at compounds that could block its role in invading other tissues. Researchers will study how these inhibitors interact with PRL3 and test their effects in cancer models, aiming to identify molecules with better stability and specificity than those previously available. The goal is to pave the way for migrastics—drugs that prevent metastasis—by understanding what makes PRL3 druggable in human cancers. The research will build on existing patient data and cancer models to inform future translation to patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new drugs that limit metastasis and improve outcomes for patients with metastatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous PRL3 inhibitor work has faced stability and specificity challenges; this project aims to overcome those barriers with direct PRL3 binding.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dela Cerna, Mark Vincent Carreon — Georgia Southern University
- Study coordinator: Dela Cerna, Mark Vincent Carreon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.